Jordan's Post #9: Newton Baker letter to Mr. Talbott

            At the beginning of the twentieth century, Dayton was a city that was booming. The economy, population, and businesses were all on the rise during this era of American history. Because of the flourishing of Dayton, the city became deeply involved in World War I. The city was able to supply a great number of men to the American Expedition Force and the great innovators and businessmen of Dayton contributed inventions and leadership to the war effort. Col. Edward Deeds is a notable example of this latter movement. The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company is another noteworthy example. Slightly over a decade before the commencement of WWI, the Wright Brothers had become the first to demonstrate powered flight. The brothers formed the Wright Company a few years before the start of the war in order to manufacture their airplanes. Unfortunately, Wilbur died in 1912. His brother, Orville, continued to run the company. By 1918, however, the company became known as the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company with Henry E. Talbott as its president. Henry Talbott, I believe, was an already established businessman of Dayton even during the Great Flood of 1913. The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company was contracted by the government to supply war planes during WWI. During the war, Newton D. Baker was the Secretary of War. Although born in West Virginia, Newton Baker had spent time as the mayor of Cleveland and, in 1916, had accepted Wilson’s invitation to become the Secretary of War. On July 26, 1918, Baker wrote a letter to Henry Talbott of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company in reply to a telegram regarding a shipment of planes. He was pleased to learn from Talbott that the company was to ship one thousand DeHaviland battle planes on August 2. Talbott had invited Baker to the factory in order to address the six thousand employees of the company. Baker cordially declined this invitation. He explained, “The great battle now going on in France is not only a dramatic but a critical moment in the war, and I am not permitting myself to be absent from Washington or to make any plans for absence just now.” Through the rest of the letter, Baker explained that he has been to the factory before and had noticed the zeal and loyalty of the employees. He knew that their effort was critical to the war and wished for Talbott to convey his thanks and appreciation to them.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/baker.htm

Sec. of War Newton Baker Mimeographed Letter, 1918. SC-135. Wright State University Special Collections and Archives: Dayton, OH.